#DigMyRig Photo
Gear List
Dave Smith P6 and Pro2, Elektron Rytm and Analog 4, Kurzweil PC3x, Maschine, Push, Logic, Live…
The MIDI Association Artist Interview
•Tell us about yourself briefly.
My name is Hugo and I run Goldbaby, a studio in Auckland, New Zealand that focuses mainly on sound design. I sell my sample packs from my website: www.goldbaby.co.nz.
I have been using music technology since the mid 80s. It’s gone from a childhood hobby to a full time dream job!
•What was your first encounter with MIDI?
That would probably be in the late 80’s when I bought a Roland MC300 to sequence an X7000 and then a Kawai K4. I loved that set-up!
•How do you use MIDI today?
It has multiple uses. I have an extensive hardware synth and drum machine collection, so it’s essential. Not only for sequencing but for saving banks of patches. It also helps with programming synths like my Kawai K3m. Instead of using buttons to program it I have it hooked up via midi to a hardware patch editor with sliders and knobs… much more enjoyable!
•How has MIDI allowed you to do what you do?
I like to layer synths and drum machines when I’m doing sound design and I do that using Midi. A three synth stack sounds huge! I know it would probably be easier to do layering in a DAW with samples of the individual units… however my sound design techniques require lots of gain staging experiments with real hardware pre-amps and a valve mixer.
•Anything else you’d like to add?
I’m still amazed at how long we have had MIDI and it’s still totally relevant today after over 30 years of service.
Best Regards
Hugo
Goldbaby
Purveyors of quality sample based instruments
Here is a video of my studio as it was 3 years ago. The music in the video was made with a combination of hardware and software and wouldn’t have been possible without midi.
HUGO HAS HAD AN AMAZING COLLECTION OF DRUM MACHINES THROUGH HIS STUDIO, CHECK OUT THIS GALLERY FROM HIS FLICKER ACCOUNT!
